Henry Poole Is Here (2008)

Did not like the constant close ups, the main and secondary plots, or the characters. Only watched because it was classified PG comedy and liked other Luke Wilson's performances.

On my FB page I wrote I graduated from the University of 100,000 movies on the wall. I had a small chain of video stores in Southern California that I ran for almost a quarter of a century. And I've seen a lot of movies. Under the heading "Movies That Moved Me" this would be in my top 10.I have to stipulate I consider myself spiritual but not very religious. Add, this was the first movie that I saw after having a near death illness. With that said, "Wow!" This movie moved me.Admittedly, I have an affinity for small, low budget movies that are story and character driven. And different. Simply put, I loved this movie. Honest, romantic, heartfelt, touching and finally, uplifting--probably in a way that not all viewers may agree.The little girl played by Morgan Lily was hypnotic. Luke Wilson has never been better or more convincing. The overtly religious neighbor Esperanza played by Adriana Barraza almost steals the show--she's that good. Just a helluva terrific soundtrack. And a story so moving, so spiritually connecting (for me, to me) that I watch this movie at least once a year. More often when needed.Kudos to writer Albert Torres. Breaks my heart that he hasn't done anything since. Like I said, many might not agree with my assessment of this film, but to those kindred spirits out there, don't miss this one.

I agree with all the other comments here that call this movie far-fetched, treacly, hard to stomach, etc. It may begin with the air of something different, something unHollywood, but soon it reveals itself as Hollywood all the way, with a predictable plot, stupid sentimentality, brainless deference to religion (oh, faith! oh, hope! oh belief! the answers to all life's hardships), wonderful coincidences (gee, I'm lucky, just as I settle down to wait to die I find myself next door to a beautiful, available woman who falls for me) and a standard fairy- tale ending. All that is enough to rate this movie a waste of time. But I would add to what other critics have said that it is S-L-O-W, which is not far off from saying it's boring. Finally, about that sound track--it can sometimes be pretty hard to take; you'll get the feeling of it if you imagine one folk singer after other alone on a stage strumming and bleating.

All right, so I freely admit being that horrid creature, a European socialist, and actually even a long standing militant atheist. Whilst enjoying my free health benefits, never to be achieved in the USA, thanks to the health insurance lobbies and to many Republicans and some corrupt Democrat, I found this movie very good and not a religious propaganda one. The Devil's Advocate, now, trying to affirm the Devil as a real entity (and in the US, he is of course incarnate into a lawyer) that was probably paid for truly by Vatican funds, but this, no... This is a movie about living in the present (if anything this is Zen, not at all Catholic, the basic tenet of Catholics being: suffer now, get a prize later..), about how even misguided people may have positive feelings, how death in a predominantly Protestant culture like the contemporary USA is something people are unable to deal with, how the "good neighbourhood" tradition and customs may occasionally appear empty of meaning. It may make you think and perhaps cry (I did both). Well done!